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“No apologies necessary,” she replied, straightening her skirt. “I’m glad you’ve had some better days recently. I’m sorry it’s costing your body.”
He reached out and squeezed her hand. “It has been a blessing.”
Lila nodded and she and Juan walked out.
“It’s a shame that woman is married. She could have been good for you,” his dad said, shaking his head. “And she’s got a good job. Don’t discount that. The sheriff doesn’t even have to pay a copay probably. All that health care right in his own home.”
“Dad, this is serious.”
“I understand, but so is finding you a wife.” His father eased out of the lounger. “I’m going to make some hot chocolate for us. Tell me, did you go for a second date with the actress?” His dad stopped and turned, a frown on his face. “Was there a reporter?”
Major followed him into the kitchen, frustration welling. “Yes, and he upset you.”
“I was not having a good day. I’ve felt better the last week or so, but I still have crazy moments. I sort of remember him. He kept asking about how long you’d known her and if you were trying to make a buck off her. I said my son didn’t need to make a buck off a woman. He has his own bucks, and they might not be as multitudinous as the young woman’s in question but they’re still respectable for a civil servant. That was not a nice man. You should tell your girl to stay away from him.”
It was good that his father remembered, but there were some things he seemed to intentionally forget. “Okay, first of all, she’s not my girl. We decided to save each other the heartache and keep our distance.”
“Well, that doesn’t sound like a good idea. It sounds a bit on the cowardly side, Major. I didn’t raise you to run away in the face of a challenge.”
“It’s not a challenge,” Major countered. “It’s pure logic. She’s here for six more weeks and then she’ll be gone and she won’t come back. Now we need to talk about the meds.”
“Why can’t she come back?”
Major sighed. They had other things to talk about. “Because of her work. She works a lot, and she’s always on the road. Dad, I need you to focus.”
“Well, you always wanted to see the world. Maybe you should go with her. And I’m perfectly focused. I’m just not focused on what you want me to be focused on. I think you’re the one with the focus problems.” His dad reached up and grabbed the tea kettle.
“No. I’m focused on the right things.” He didn’t want hot chocolate. He wanted his father to be okay, and it looked like that wasn’t going to happen. “You can’t keep taking the medication. It’s hurting you.”
“And so is dementia.” He maneuvered his way around the child locks on the stove after filling the kettle with water. They’d put those in about a year ago when he’d burned himself. “It’s killing my soul, son. These hours I’ve had since Lila put me on the new medication have been my salvation. I would rather go out early with my mind somewhat clear than live another ten or twenty years in the prison of my own brain.”
On one level, he understood what his father was saying, but all he heard was the fact that his father was choosing to leave him. “You’re not thinking straight. I have to make this decision for you.”
“Do you honestly want me to live in pain? To be afraid every moment of the day because I can barely remember where I am?” His dad took a long breath. “We need to take some time. Both you and I. Yes, I gave you the power to make this decision for me, son, but I did that because I trust you—not to make the right decision for you, but to make the right decision for me. In this case, I think it’s the right choice for us both. Now, let’s have some hot chocolate. These good moments of mine only last so long, and I want to hear about why you aren’t seeing Brynn. I remember how much you smiled when you talked about her.”
“Dad, we need to talk about this now.”
“What is there to talk about?” He put a generous amount of cocoa powder in two mugs. “You’ve stated plainly that you’ll make the decision. I’m asking you not to make it for the next week. You heard what she said. My liver’s not going out in a week. I’d like a week before you choose. Can you give me that?”
He didn’t want to wait. He wanted the decision to be made so he could move on to whatever awful thing would happen next. “How am I supposed to let you stay on drugs that will kill you?”
